Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate
CHILLING ECHOES Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate
THE MYSTERY of a missing doctor who vanished in a Welsh national park has finally been solved twelve years later.
Psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco went for a walk in the Carneddau mountains in Eryri - also called Snowdonia - when he disappeared.
5
Rescue teams out searching for Shayne Colaco in the Welsh mountains
Credit: Daily Post Wales
5
The search for David Brookfield led to the discovery of another missing walker
Credit: Daily Post Wales
5
Shayne Eves Colaco's remains were found in Snowdonia after twelve years
Credit: Daily Post Wales
He drove from Stoke-on-Trent in the summer of 2012 and set off walking towards 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen.
But he didn't return to his Fiat car and was never seen again.
Despite searches, cops couldn't find him and he was declared dead six six later, despite his body remaining undiscovered.
Fast forward to January last year, when David Brookfield, 65, also vanished in the Welsh Carneddau mountains.
He WhatsApped his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no one ever heard from him again.
For four months, searches were carried out to no avail.
But in May 2024, a blue jacket was sighted in the Ogwen Valley by a passing coastguard helicopter on a routine training exercise.
It is believed David had fallen in a gully and was seriously injured on his descent from the mountain.
While his body was recovered, mountain rescue made another change discovery.
They spotted another jacket further down the gully, that looked far older and seemed to have been there for some time.
Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit recalled to North WalesLive:
'The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key.
'Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier.'
As the cops investigated further, they were "amazed" to find that the details matched up with the missing hiker.
So they resumed the search for Shayne in another bid to find him and bring peace to his family.
A drone pilot then noticed a piece of fabric under a bush in the gully.
Sgt Terry continued: 'Quite incredibly, [he] realised that he had also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco.
'What's really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches 12 years before for Shayne."
David and Shane were both experienced walkers who were well prepared, and Sgt Terry warned hikers that it's important to understand the danger of the hills and weather.
5
The peak of Pen yr Ole Wen is seen in the distance
Credit: Getty
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
43 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Cyclist says her arm was broken in collision with Welsh parkrun participant
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A cyclist says she suffered a fractured arm after being struck by a runner who veered into the cycle lane during a busy Welsh parkrun event. The woman, who faces six weeks of pain and inconvenience, described the incident, in Swansea, as completely preventable. The 27-year-old student, preferring to remain anonymous, recounted how the runner did not stop to offer assistance following the collision at the Swansea Bay parkrun on Saturday, August 9, leaving her with two fractures in her right arm and numerous cuts and bruises. This recent clash follows earlier grievances where parkrun participants were accused of shoving a woman aside and hurling abuse at cyclists on the same route. Following these episodes, the parkrun organisers have released a statement admonishing some participants for their conduct. The well-attended free parkrun is held every Saturday at 9am along the promenade on Mumbles Road. The injured cyclist, a frequent user of the path, noted that certain sections become "narrow" and contain "blind bends", reports Wales Online. On the day in question, over 600 people took part. She said that due to the popularity of the event and the behaviour of some runners it has become "dangerous" and called for the parkrun to be moved to a more suitable location. The cyclist said: "I was on the side of the path reserved for cyclists when a runner who might have seen an opportunity to overtake a slower group and without looking, jumped on to the cycling side of the path. "He did this very suddenly, and I was unable to avoid him. As such we were involved in a high impact crash and I came off my bike." She said the runner responsible did not stop to check on her or apologise, something the cyclist described as "disappointing". Her injuries now mean she will be unable to drive for six weeks and will likely delay her going back to university. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community "It's disappointing that the personal best is worth more than stopping and checking the person you've just hit to the ground's alright - especially after the organisers issued the apology and kind of had a word with all these runners, that behaviour still seems to be an issue," she said. Just weeks ago Swansea parkrunners were warned over their behaviour after what organisers described as "abusive language towards cyclists, barging of a female member of the public on her way to work and significant disregard of the shared path etiquette". A statement at the time said: "As event directors and run directors we are having to respond to, very understandably, disgruntled path users. "We apologise to them, we explain what we do to try and ensure all path users are safe and can enjoy use of a community asset - what else can we do?! It is so upsetting to receive feedback and reports like we have today - today is the worst it has been ever. "We are feeling really disappointed and despondent - parkrun should be a joy, something positive, something inspirational, something inclusive." Ahead of Saturday's Swansea parkrun organisers had shared a plea for participants to follow the course code of conduct and the importance of respecting the run director's briefing, which is delivered before the run starts each week. On the event Facebook page they said: "We expect everyone to abide by the relevant codes. In some circumstances it may be necessary to review an individual's participation through Sanction Panel." The code of conduct asks participants to: Pay attention to the pre-parkrun briefing Respect everyone's right to participate in their own way Under 11s always within arm's reach of a parent or guardian One dog (on a short lead) per person (see dogs principle) Be mindful of your local environment and other people The free event happens at 9am every Saturday, with people starting from the city's Secret Bar and Kitchen, along the promenade towards Mumbles. The path is not exclusively hired by parkrun and the organisers said they emphasise the need to share the path with other people out running, walking or cycling, in the briefing before each run and in its event details online. The cyclist knocked off her bike on Saturday said she has come to the conclusion that it is not safe for the event to be going ahead in its current form on a path that everyone in the city has a right to use. She added that it's "extremely frustrating" that nothing appears to have changed since the organisers issued their apology to other path users and this lack of "practical measures" has now resulted in her getting hurt. "If people are going to be doing this sort of thing, it's just not safe," she said. "There needs to be a shared code of respect - there's a white line down the middle of the path for a reason. Even if you're going at a relatively slow speed on a bike if you collide with someone who's running pretty quickly, you're going to cause one and other some damage." She said she believes organisers have become aware that the area where the crash happened is a "pinch point", with multiple volunteer marshals stationed there. The cyclist said the volunteers were "absolutely brilliant" after she came off her bike, cleaning up her cuts and checking she was ok before helping her to get home. However she added that she was "frustrated" with the response she had from the team when she contacted them after finding out she had fractured her arm. "They apologised and said they were looking at ways to change things," the cyclist said. "It's disappointing that these issues haven't been mitigated already despite it being brought up multiple times." She added: "I think it's outgrown the space it is held in. It's a lot of people to be going down quite a small stretch of path really. It's a brilliant event and getting people outdoors is so important, but it needs to be done in a way that's safe for everyone. If what had happened to me happened to a child or someone who's a bit older, it could've caused some really serious damage." Swansea parkrun and parkrun UK have been asked for comment. Swansea Council told us they wanted to hear from organisers before commenting. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
North Wales Live
an hour ago
- North Wales Live
Cyclist says her arm was broken in collision with Welsh parkrun participant
A cyclist says she suffered a fractured arm after being struck by a runner who veered into the cycle lane during a busy Welsh parkrun event. The woman, who faces six weeks of pain and inconvenience, described the incident, in Swansea, as completely preventable. The 27-year-old student, preferring to remain anonymous, recounted how the runner did not stop to offer assistance following the collision at the Swansea Bay parkrun on Saturday, August 9, leaving her with two fractures in her right arm and numerous cuts and bruises. This recent clash follows earlier grievances where parkrun participants were accused of shoving a woman aside and hurling abuse at cyclists on the same route. Following these episodes, the parkrun organisers have released a statement admonishing some participants for their conduct. The well-attended free parkrun is held every Saturday at 9am along the promenade on Mumbles Road. The injured cyclist, a frequent user of the path, noted that certain sections become "narrow" and contain "blind bends", reports Wales Online. On the day in question, over 600 people took part. She said that due to the popularity of the event and the behaviour of some runners it has become "dangerous" and called for the parkrun to be moved to a more suitable location. The cyclist said: "I was on the side of the path reserved for cyclists when a runner who might have seen an opportunity to overtake a slower group and without looking, jumped on to the cycling side of the path. "He did this very suddenly, and I was unable to avoid him. As such we were involved in a high impact crash and I came off my bike." She said the runner responsible did not stop to check on her or apologise, something the cyclist described as "disappointing". Her injuries now mean she will be unable to drive for six weeks and will likely delay her going back to university. "It's disappointing that the personal best is worth more than stopping and checking the person you've just hit to the ground's alright - especially after the organisers issued the apology and kind of had a word with all these runners, that behaviour still seems to be an issue," she said. Just weeks ago Swansea parkrunners were warned over their behaviour after what organisers described as "abusive language towards cyclists, barging of a female member of the public on her way to work and significant disregard of the shared path etiquette". A statement at the time said: "As event directors and run directors we are having to respond to, very understandably, disgruntled path users. "We apologise to them, we explain what we do to try and ensure all path users are safe and can enjoy use of a community asset - what else can we do?! It is so upsetting to receive feedback and reports like we have today - today is the worst it has been ever. "We are feeling really disappointed and despondent - parkrun should be a joy, something positive, something inspirational, something inclusive." Ahead of Saturday's Swansea parkrun organisers had shared a plea for participants to follow the course code of conduct and the importance of respecting the run director's briefing, which is delivered before the run starts each week. On the event Facebook page they said: "We expect everyone to abide by the relevant codes. In some circumstances it may be necessary to review an individual's participation through Sanction Panel." The code of conduct asks participants to: Pay attention to the pre-parkrun briefing Respect everyone's right to participate in their own way Under 11s always within arm's reach of a parent or guardian One dog (on a short lead) per person (see dogs principle) Be mindful of your local environment and other people The free event happens at 9am every Saturday, with people starting from the city's Secret Bar and Kitchen, along the promenade towards Mumbles. The path is not exclusively hired by parkrun and the organisers said they emphasise the need to share the path with other people out running, walking or cycling, in the briefing before each run and in its event details online. The cyclist knocked off her bike on Saturday said she has come to the conclusion that it is not safe for the event to be going ahead in its current form on a path that everyone in the city has a right to use. She added that it's "extremely frustrating" that nothing appears to have changed since the organisers issued their apology to other path users and this lack of "practical measures" has now resulted in her getting hurt. "If people are going to be doing this sort of thing, it's just not safe," she said. "There needs to be a shared code of respect - there's a white line down the middle of the path for a reason. Even if you're going at a relatively slow speed on a bike if you collide with someone who's running pretty quickly, you're going to cause one and other some damage." She said she believes organisers have become aware that the area where the crash happened is a "pinch point", with multiple volunteer marshals stationed there. The cyclist said the volunteers were "absolutely brilliant" after she came off her bike, cleaning up her cuts and checking she was ok before helping her to get home. However she added that she was "frustrated" with the response she had from the team when she contacted them after finding out she had fractured her arm. "They apologised and said they were looking at ways to change things," the cyclist said. "It's disappointing that these issues haven't been mitigated already despite it being brought up multiple times." She added: "I think it's outgrown the space it is held in. It's a lot of people to be going down quite a small stretch of path really. It's a brilliant event and getting people outdoors is so important, but it needs to be done in a way that's safe for everyone. If what had happened to me happened to a child or someone who's a bit older, it could've caused some really serious damage." Swansea parkrun and parkrun UK have been asked for comment.
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Pensioner's devastated family say horror Anglesey crash 'will always weigh heavily on us'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The devastated family of a "much-loved" grandad who died in a crash that tragically killed him and another couple in Beaumaris, Anglesey, have paid tribute to him. Humphrey Pickering, 81, was driving a grey coloured Audi A8, which collided with Reverend Stephen and Katherine Burch as they walked along Alma Street, Beaumaris, on Wednesday, August 28 2024. All three died in the collision. On Monday, the family of Stephen and Katherine Burch called for 'stronger checks' on elderly motorists. Mr Pickering lived in Colwyn Bay and his family described him as a 'much-loved husband, father, grand and great-grandfather, brother and uncle' and said he will be 'terribly missed by us all". They also extended their sympathies to the Burch family, saying the crash will "always weigh heavily on us". The family said: 'Humphrey Pickering was a lifelong learner who loved travel, learning new languages and experiencing new cultures. "His career centred around libraries, learning, and bringing knowledge to communities throughout Europe and as far away as the South Pacific. He was a valued colleague, boss, friend, and mentor to many. (Image: North Wales Police handout) 'In retirement he continued to serve his community through volunteering and was a member of rotary and town-twinning. He was also a keen gardener, tending his trees, flowers, and vegetables throughout the year. 'Our family want to thank the emergency services and members of the public who assisted at the scene, and to those who provided care and support to our mother, especially the staff at the Bulkley Hotel, who kept her safe until we were able to come to Beaumaris to be by her side. 'We also want to thank those who have worked tirelessly since, to uncover the events of that day and provide an explanation of what happened on that fateful day. "These answers will help us move forward in our grief and are a small step towards our family accepting this tragic accident and the devastating loss to both our family and the family of Revd Stephen and Katherine Burch. (Image: David Powell/North Wales Live) 'We extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the Burch family, we are devastated for their loss, a loss that will always weigh heavily on us. We hope the outcome of the inquest will also help them in some small way.' The inquest into the deaths of Mr Pickering, and Mr and Mrs Burch took place in Caernarfon on Thursday, August 7. North West Wales senior coroner Kate Robertson concluded Mr Pickering had pressed his car's accelerator by mistake, before colliding with the couple. A police collision investigator found his vehicle had gone from 25mph to 55mph after Mr Pickering pressed the accelerator three times in the five seconds before the tragic collision. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up Find out what's happening near you
